Chapter 1: Collapse! Antimatter Energy Shield

  Zhang Zixing is a Chinese scientist, currently thirty years old. In the 24th century, where technology has advanced to a high level and human lifespan has been greatly extended, this age can only be considered as just entering adolescence. However, the achievements of this "young" genius scientist have surpassed many well-known predecessors, especially in the field of antimatter research, which is hailed by the scientific community as a "breakthrough with cross-century significance".

  In a remote and secluded laboratory, in front of a part of the huge and strange instruments, Zhang Zixing was intently observing the semi-transparent display screen floating in mid-air, occasionally tapping on it with his fingers, and the data and patterns on the display screen also changed accordingly. His research goal is to test the strange disc suspended in the central container of the instrument. The disc is dark golden in color, neither wood nor metal, concave in the middle, with many exquisite and strange texts and patterns on its surface, giving people a sense of ancient simplicity and mystery.

  "It's truly astonishing... The data shows that the structure of this energy is unprecedented, and if accurately proven, it would far surpass the energy of all antimatter systems. What's even more unimaginable is that the way the energy moves inside is somewhat similar to the existence of life..." Zhang Zixing muttered to himself as he rapidly controlled the computer with his hands, conducting various tests and calculations. Several assistant-like individuals were also busy beside him.

  Suddenly, the screen's changes slowed down gradually, and a voice followed: "You have been working continuously for twelve hours. The forced rest program is about to start. Please stop your work immediately, master, and take a timely rest and supplement nutrition."

  The voice came from a semi-transparent sphere the size of a fist, suspended in mid-air, emitting a faint glow. At first glance, it seemed to be some kind of lighting fixture, but it was actually the world's most advanced super-intelligent computer. Zhang Zixing, who had been interrupted while working, naturally felt displeased and frowned, saying: "Super Brain, immediately stop the forced rest program, I need to conduct further in-depth research on these energies."

  Hyperion's response was strange: "The mandatory shutdown sequence has been terminated three times in a row... Special alert program is about to start."

  "Special reminder program? Wait! Super Brain!" Zhang Zixing suddenly reacted, just wanting to stop, but unfortunately it was too late. A soft light flashed by, and a three-dimensional image of a young woman appeared in the laboratory. The woman had an exceptional temperament and extremely beautiful looks. If it weren't for the strict restrictions on cloning and genetic engineering at present, her appearance would probably become the standard model for all women who love beauty to clone.

  "Honey, are you going to overwork again? That's not allowed! You're not a robot!" The woman made a serious face with a hint of playfulness and her voice was very moving: "This special reminder program is specially added to the super brain, now giving you the last five minutes to back up your data! Your wife will be home soon to settle accounts with you!"

  If it were in the past, Zhang Zixing would have been busy backing up, but now he just stood quietly on the spot, watching this virtual image gradually disappear, with a deep and profound sadness in his eyes that was hard to express.

  "Yu Xian..." Zhang Zixing slowly closed his eyes, and although his wife had passed away a long time ago, her voice, appearance, and smile were still vivid in his mind, deeply etched in his heart.

  Yu Xian is a renowned scientist in the computer world, and the control core "Super Brain" of this laboratory was originally a failed experiment. Through her skilled hands, it became the most advanced super-intelligent computer in the world; Unlike Zhang Zixing who is deeply buried in his work in the laboratory, Yu Xian has a wide range of interests and also likes archaeology and history, often going out to investigate and study - The two have a very deep affection for each other, although they each have their own careers, they all understand and support each other, with a high degree of tacit understanding that makes many friends envy.

  Unfortunately, eight years ago, Yu Xian met with an accident and passed away. Although Zhang Zixing could use genetic engineering and cloning technology to create a person who looked exactly like her, the unique soul of a human being cannot be replicated. Even if he were to clone her, it would only be another unfamiliar woman in appearance - the Yu Xian he loved would never come back.

  In the first two years after Yu Xian's death, Zhang Zixing was like a walking corpse, every day only knowing how to get drunk and drown his sorrows, countless times getting drunk and falling down on the streets. No matter how his parents and friends tried to persuade him, it was all in vain. If it weren't for the fact that the physical constitution of the new humans of the 24th century had greatly improved, he would have probably long since died from alcohol poisoning, and the entire scientific community was lamenting the decline of this genius.

  Zhang Zixing remained Zhang Zixing, no matter how difficult it was. He finally walked out of the days of intoxication and death, and threw himself into his beloved research career again. However, his personality changed greatly, becoming more impulsive, reckless, and even lustful. He showed strong desires for beautiful women, and had many girlfriends or sex partners in his spare time. It seemed as if he was expressing his sorrow and pain in a different way, and also unconsciously searching for someone similar to Yu Xian's shadow.

  But it's like "drowning sorrows in drink, only to wake up to even greater sorrow", the emptiness and pain after sobering up is even more intense than before getting drunk, unless... one never wakes up.

  This special program was written by Yu Xian to prevent himself from overworking and neglecting his health, although it also caused some interference with Zhang Zixing's dedicated work, but he couldn't bear to delete it.

  "Alright, Super Brain, initiate the automatic research program immediately. Robot No. 1 and No. 2 are in charge of monitoring and calculation... report any situation at any time." Zhang Zixing opened his eyes and finally made a decision to take a short rest, while those assistants were all humanoid robots.

  After launching the automatic research program, Zhang Zixing immediately entered the biochemical recovery pool in the rest room. As soon as he entered, those "waters" came over and tightly adhered to his body surface. This super recovery pool is not ordinary, it can not only provide a large amount of nutrients, quickly eliminate fatigue, but also greatly accelerate cell regeneration, making damaged bodies quickly repair, which is the most advanced research result in the medical field today.

  Just as Zhang Zixing was relaxing in the biochemical recovery pool, enjoying this rare break, a sudden series of alarm sounds startled him.

  "Target energy activity anomaly detected! Unknown energy is expanding exponentially!"

  "Overcrystal container is no longer sustainable! Collapse imminent at any time!"

  "Target energy has reached dangerous levels!"

  Zhang Zixing was shocked and quickly gave orders to the super brain that flew into the rest room: "Immediately start the anti-matter shield! At the same time, start the energy decomposition system and gradually weaken the target energy!"

  As the antimatter shield activated, the alarm finally subsided, and it seemed that the situation was under control. Zhang Zixing let out a sigh of relief and was about to get dressed to head to the research room when the alarm sounded again: "Antimatter shield is experiencing intense impact! Energy decomposition system overloaded by 200%! Unable to continue dispersing target energy!"

  Zhang Zixing didn't have time to put on his clothes, nor did he have time to wipe off the recovery fluid that had adhered to his body. He rushed into the research room at top speed, only to see a faint blue glow emanating from around the circular disk, and in the central frame, a strange crystal layer suddenly appeared, looking like a mirror.

  "Is this its true face?" Zhang Zixing started the emergency system to boost the energy of the antimatter shield to its maximum while watching in surprise as the "mirror"'s energy index changed.

  Suddenly, dazzling electric sparks burst out of the surrounding instruments, and some even made a slight explosive sound, as if they had been damaged due to overloading.

  "Warning! Target energy has reached S-level! Antimatter shield will collapse in fifteen minutes! Recommend immediate evacuation!"

  "How is this possible?!" Zhang Zixing's mind was shocked, he never thought that his proud and the world's most advanced antimatter energy technology would be so vulnerable in front of this "mirror". To know that this antimatter shield defense strength is astonishing, can withstand thousands of supersonic missile attacks at the same time, but this unknown energy can destroy it in such a short period of time, what kind of energy is this?!

  This terrible energy, once fully erupted, would have an unimaginable impact and cause destruction. Although the laboratory is located in a remote mountainous area, the surrounding cities will inevitably suffer devastating blows. Realizing the severity of the situation, Zhang Zixing didn't dare to escape, rushed to a device in the center, inputting a string of passwords: "Super Brain, start all emergency backup energy immediately, open F mode!"

  "F mode activated successfully! Laboratory main body begins to disassemble and recombine, will depart from base and launch into space in 10 minutes, please master evacuate the laboratory immediately." It turned out that Zhang Zixing's idea was to urgently launch this dangerous laboratory into outer space, in order to minimize the damage to Earth.

  Zhang Zixing wiped away the cold sweat on his nose tip, grabbed the super brain in his hand and turned around to run: "Ten minutes... hope I can make it..."

  Suddenly, the blue light on the disc surged, and the anti-matter shield that the computer had predicted could last for fifteen minutes collapsed instantly. Zhang Zixing, who was caught off guard, didn't even have time to bring the superbrain into the emergency lifeboat.

  There was no earth-shattering event as imagined, only a dazzling blue light filling the sky. In the haze, Zhang Zixing seemed to see Yu Xian beckoning him.

  "It's okay, this way we can be together again......" This was his last consciousness before falling into darkness.

  It was unknown how long had passed, Zhang Zixing slowly opened his eyes, and the old and strange patterns on the ceiling entered his vision, and he was lying on a large bed. Strange, wasn't he dead? Where was this place? Was it hell?

  "Your Highness! You're awake?" A woman's voice rang out beside him. "You've been asleep for two days and two nights."

  Zhang Zixing took a look and found that it was a delicate-looking girl wearing strange clothes, who walked over with a jade bowl in her hands, knelt down on the ground, and said: "Your Highness, this is the Longevity Soup prepared by Madam for you, please drink it."

  "Your Highness? Madam? Zhang Zixing subconsciously looked at his own clothes and the surroundings, his face turned even paler, and asked: "Where is this place? Who am I?"

  "Your Highness, haven't you sobered up yet?" The girl was shocked. "This is the Shouwang Fu of Mouyicheng, and you are Prince Shouwang!"

  Muye? Emperor Shou's palace? He felt somewhat familiar, and suddenly thought of something that was almost impossible.